T shirts to go: Packaging at Uniqlo's UT store, above, gives fashion retailing a fun twist
Like many good ideas, it's so simple you wonder why nobody had thought of it before. But credit goes to Japanese clothing brand Uniqlo for bringing fashion retailing into the age of the convenience store. Located in Tokyo's youthful fashion district, Harajuku, its new outlet, tel: (81-3) 5468 7313, sells nothing but T shirts packed into clear plastic tubes and stacked like so many cans of soda. The futuristic-looking store, named UT, is the brainchild of Uniqlo's creative director Kashiwa Sato, and to commemorate its opening the company has unveiled the UT Project collection of limited-edition shirts. Among the guest designers are noted U.S. photographer Terry Richardson and British fashion designer Gareth Pugh. If you're after something less fancy, you'll find plain, monochromatic shirts sold according to Pantone color. You'll also see UT's grab-and-go ethos reflected in the price: nothing in the shop costs more than $12.